Hey guys,
So today, I wanted to give a brief product review of Barnes and Noble's Nook.
For more general product info, go here:
http://gdgt.com/barnes-noble/nook/images/
After moving out of my parent's house for good, and saying goodbye to so many books and memories, I decided to invest in an ereader. Now, I know what you're going to say. I love the feel of a book too. However, I'm also a total hoarder. It kills me to throw away (or even donate) books that I have been given as gifts. Who cares if I haven't read Charlotte's web in 15 years? I might NEED it!
That being said, I received a Nook for Christmas, and it was love at first sight. I spent the entire Christmas afternoon reading and gawking at the ease with which I was able to upload and download books. Still, there are a few things that people should know before purchasing a Nook.
Pros:
- Sleek design: The Nook is super light and easy to carry. I got a little pouch that keeps my Nook nice and cozy. Not that I EVER spill coffee, or tea, or any type of beverage, but, if I were to do such a horrendous thing, I think my Nook might survive in this case.
- Library: As far as I can tell you, can store an unlimited number of books on your Nook. AWESOMESAUCE!!
- Shop: B&N produces and updates a list of popular books. It also provides lists from The New York Times top 100 bestsellers. I really enjoy this feature, as I would be completely lost if I had to search on my own. The search option is also there, for those that know exactly what they want to buy.
- Newspapers: You can also subscribe to newspapers for cheap! :)
Cons:
- The main screen is not a touch screen! I have to tell myself that at least 20 times a day. This makes me sad. Touchscreens are so cool.
- I haven't quite figured out the battery situation for the Nook. I used it over Christmas, and it had a full battery, but I forgot it in the car when we left for Wisconsin. However, it seems like the power had still been on, because I needed to charge it when I got back? Weird.
All in all, I highly recommend the Nook for my fellow book hoarders. Happy shopping!
- SIC
Monday, January 3, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Welcome 2011!
Hey guys...
So, the last time I left off, I had just procured an apartment and was about to enter my first year in the job market. Since then, I feel that I have been caught in a whirlwind of activity...you know the kind where the houses are flying off their hinges and you see cows flying around? ( Okay, maybe I've seen Twister one too many times). Anyways, the point being, I recently realized that friends in foreign countries are publishing more frequently than I am. Therefore, I felt obligated to post something, especially since it's the New Year.
That being said, here's a list of things that I have been doing/have accomplished since my last post:
- Went to Wisconsin for an AMAZING wedding at Brewer's stadium!
- Lesson planning/Gaining ground and confidence as a new teacher...
- Geocaching Megaventure- Went out to Bristol, VA to do some sightseeing and geocaching in October with my boyfriend for his birthday. It was one of the more relaxing trips that I have ever been on. I still need to upload the pics...hmm...
- More Lesson Planning...
- Miscellanious trips into DC/Old Town; I went to Ben's Chili Bowl in October. Nothing like a delicious meal after a day at a school fair! :)
- Thanksgiving in New York: Spent Thanksgiving vacation in upstate New York. Five deer shared our dinner. Quite the picturesque trip!
- Christmas in DC/Wisconsin- Which leaves me to my latest adventure. I just got back from Wisconsin today. It was a blast spending time with family and friends! I can't wait to go back!
Phew! Well...hopefully I will write more later...but at least this is an update! Happy New Year everyone! :)
So, the last time I left off, I had just procured an apartment and was about to enter my first year in the job market. Since then, I feel that I have been caught in a whirlwind of activity...you know the kind where the houses are flying off their hinges and you see cows flying around? ( Okay, maybe I've seen Twister one too many times). Anyways, the point being, I recently realized that friends in foreign countries are publishing more frequently than I am. Therefore, I felt obligated to post something, especially since it's the New Year.
That being said, here's a list of things that I have been doing/have accomplished since my last post:
- Went to Wisconsin for an AMAZING wedding at Brewer's stadium!
- Lesson planning/Gaining ground and confidence as a new teacher...
- Geocaching Megaventure- Went out to Bristol, VA to do some sightseeing and geocaching in October with my boyfriend for his birthday. It was one of the more relaxing trips that I have ever been on. I still need to upload the pics...hmm...
- More Lesson Planning...
- Miscellanious trips into DC/Old Town; I went to Ben's Chili Bowl in October. Nothing like a delicious meal after a day at a school fair! :)
- Thanksgiving in New York: Spent Thanksgiving vacation in upstate New York. Five deer shared our dinner. Quite the picturesque trip!
- Christmas in DC/Wisconsin- Which leaves me to my latest adventure. I just got back from Wisconsin today. It was a blast spending time with family and friends! I can't wait to go back!
Phew! Well...hopefully I will write more later...but at least this is an update! Happy New Year everyone! :)
Sunday, August 1, 2010
So, it is the first of August and this is how my checklist fares for things that I need to do to be an official "grown-up".
Procure Employment: Check
Procure Apartment: CHECK! (Finally!)
Yes, it's true. I am proud to say that I am now officially moving out, and moving on to post-graduate life. What this has in store for me, I don't know. So far I have a lot of bills and a different address so that I can get more junk mail. I'm sure that once I am settled, I'll have lots of tips for the post-graduate city slicker, but at the moment all I have are some tips on how to procure an apartment, since I have finally reached my goal.
Some of you may remember, that not too long ago I was still within the amazon of apartment listings, feeling lost, bewildered, and at times highly amused by the apartments, condos, townhouses and efficiency suites that lay before me. So, having seen the good, the bad, and the ugly, I now feel qualified to share some tips on what not to do/what to do when searching and deciding on a home.
1) If it seems too good to be true- it probably is. Trust your gut. Are you feeling like the rent is way too low? Is there some strange vibe that you can't quite pinpoint about the place- listen to your intuition. It rarely steered me wrong. Sometimes there would be tons of hidden fees, or the renter would be downright dishonest. There are a lot of great renters out there. But there are also a lot of people who are desperate for money.
2) Aside from just plain wrong fits- take some time to really think about your decision. Although it might be tempting, don't commit right away. Think about the situation. Will you really be comfortable living in that place? What about the people?
3) Talking points- after a while I found that there were some really important questions to ask upfront, some that I didn't even think about until way after I had begun searching for apartments. Although the search is different for everybody, these are some basic questions I found to be standard:
- How many roommates will I have? Please describe them?
- How much will rent be? Is that including utilities?
- Will I have kitchen privilidges/ be able to store food? (Originally I had just assumed that I would be allowed to use the kitchen. However, this is far from standard. There are some renters who do not allow their tenants to use the kitchen, let alone common space)
- What is your policy on having friends over? (Again, at first I just assumed that everyone was as low-key about this as myself.WRONG! Some people are more protective of their space than others, and this is something that every first- time renter should ask.)
- Any other questions? Ask it! Do not be afraid or embarrassed to get the information you need to make an informed decision. You need to know what to expect before you move in!
That being said, every situation is different. There is a right and a wrong way to go about getting to know a potential roomie. Find out what situation you want/they want, and then decide. Some people will be looking to make friends. Others, will just want the rent money and to keep to themselves. Everyone is different, and it's important that you only settle for an environment that you are comfortable with!
Now that I have my own perfect city oasis/roomie, I am off to a week of packing and IKEA shopping. Upcoming blogs include furnishing rooms on a budget, and beginning employment!
Procure Employment: Check
Procure Apartment: CHECK! (Finally!)
Yes, it's true. I am proud to say that I am now officially moving out, and moving on to post-graduate life. What this has in store for me, I don't know. So far I have a lot of bills and a different address so that I can get more junk mail. I'm sure that once I am settled, I'll have lots of tips for the post-graduate city slicker, but at the moment all I have are some tips on how to procure an apartment, since I have finally reached my goal.
Some of you may remember, that not too long ago I was still within the amazon of apartment listings, feeling lost, bewildered, and at times highly amused by the apartments, condos, townhouses and efficiency suites that lay before me. So, having seen the good, the bad, and the ugly, I now feel qualified to share some tips on what not to do/what to do when searching and deciding on a home.
1) If it seems too good to be true- it probably is. Trust your gut. Are you feeling like the rent is way too low? Is there some strange vibe that you can't quite pinpoint about the place- listen to your intuition. It rarely steered me wrong. Sometimes there would be tons of hidden fees, or the renter would be downright dishonest. There are a lot of great renters out there. But there are also a lot of people who are desperate for money.
2) Aside from just plain wrong fits- take some time to really think about your decision. Although it might be tempting, don't commit right away. Think about the situation. Will you really be comfortable living in that place? What about the people?
3) Talking points- after a while I found that there were some really important questions to ask upfront, some that I didn't even think about until way after I had begun searching for apartments. Although the search is different for everybody, these are some basic questions I found to be standard:
- How many roommates will I have? Please describe them?
- How much will rent be? Is that including utilities?
- Will I have kitchen privilidges/ be able to store food? (Originally I had just assumed that I would be allowed to use the kitchen. However, this is far from standard. There are some renters who do not allow their tenants to use the kitchen, let alone common space)
- What is your policy on having friends over? (Again, at first I just assumed that everyone was as low-key about this as myself.WRONG! Some people are more protective of their space than others, and this is something that every first- time renter should ask.)
- Any other questions? Ask it! Do not be afraid or embarrassed to get the information you need to make an informed decision. You need to know what to expect before you move in!
That being said, every situation is different. There is a right and a wrong way to go about getting to know a potential roomie. Find out what situation you want/they want, and then decide. Some people will be looking to make friends. Others, will just want the rent money and to keep to themselves. Everyone is different, and it's important that you only settle for an environment that you are comfortable with!
Now that I have my own perfect city oasis/roomie, I am off to a week of packing and IKEA shopping. Upcoming blogs include furnishing rooms on a budget, and beginning employment!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
MBR PVT.BA BRB OMG WTF BBQ
Hey guys,
So, my latest adventures in the city have all centered around the same theme: apartment shopping. Now, I know you may say to yourself, Sarah...apartment shopping is not an adventure. You get on craigslist, you find someone you want to room with and bam! dunzo. This, is where you're wrong my friend. In the past month, I have been witness to some of the most eclectic, the most creative, and most downright disgusting homes in the DC metrapolitan area.
Like almost everyone I know, I have used the local search engine www.craigslist.com, to try and locate my own urban oasis. The following are just a few of the ridiculous experiences that I have had thus far.
1) I went to an apartment- from the ad it looked like a great deal. Affordable rent, nice neighborhood, close to shopping/work etc. I get in there- and the lady does not turn on the lights. She does not turn on any lights except for the one to the room she is renting, during the entire walk through. The "furnished" apartment, has scratch and sniff stickers on the desk and drawers. It isn't even my favorite flavor of scratch and sniff... its banana. Nobody likes banana scratch and sniff stickers. The coup-de-gras is when I notice the renter's clothes are in what would be my closet. She explains that she will live in the living room. I promptly leave.
2) After seeing a few other discouraging aparments- I decide that maybe I should go for an affordable efficency close by. After all- what can go wrong when you are the only person living in the room, right? I go to the leasing office. The woman is literally asleep at her desk. Goodbye.
So, the question of the night: have I found an apartment yet? Well...no. Am I going to? I'm sure. But, it makes me very grateful that I can afford to take my time looking, and stay with my parents for the time being.
This weekend, I plan on retreating to another city, the big apple. There, I shall take time to bask in the luxury of being a tourist. Of being in a city for the good only, and not the crazy walk throughs and scratch and sniff stickers. I will run along Broadway singing, and enjoying the fact that I don't have an apartment there, and that there is no lease in NYC with my name on it. I am totally untethered...atleast until I am back in the nation's capital on Monday, checking my roommate responses.
So, my latest adventures in the city have all centered around the same theme: apartment shopping. Now, I know you may say to yourself, Sarah...apartment shopping is not an adventure. You get on craigslist, you find someone you want to room with and bam! dunzo. This, is where you're wrong my friend. In the past month, I have been witness to some of the most eclectic, the most creative, and most downright disgusting homes in the DC metrapolitan area.
Like almost everyone I know, I have used the local search engine www.craigslist.com, to try and locate my own urban oasis. The following are just a few of the ridiculous experiences that I have had thus far.
1) I went to an apartment- from the ad it looked like a great deal. Affordable rent, nice neighborhood, close to shopping/work etc. I get in there- and the lady does not turn on the lights. She does not turn on any lights except for the one to the room she is renting, during the entire walk through. The "furnished" apartment, has scratch and sniff stickers on the desk and drawers. It isn't even my favorite flavor of scratch and sniff... its banana. Nobody likes banana scratch and sniff stickers. The coup-de-gras is when I notice the renter's clothes are in what would be my closet. She explains that she will live in the living room. I promptly leave.
2) After seeing a few other discouraging aparments- I decide that maybe I should go for an affordable efficency close by. After all- what can go wrong when you are the only person living in the room, right? I go to the leasing office. The woman is literally asleep at her desk. Goodbye.
So, the question of the night: have I found an apartment yet? Well...no. Am I going to? I'm sure. But, it makes me very grateful that I can afford to take my time looking, and stay with my parents for the time being.
This weekend, I plan on retreating to another city, the big apple. There, I shall take time to bask in the luxury of being a tourist. Of being in a city for the good only, and not the crazy walk throughs and scratch and sniff stickers. I will run along Broadway singing, and enjoying the fact that I don't have an apartment there, and that there is no lease in NYC with my name on it. I am totally untethered...atleast until I am back in the nation's capital on Monday, checking my roommate responses.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
I'm Back!
So I apologize for not updating this thing in over a week. But, on the bright side, I am now employed! I am truly going to be, Sarah in the city from now on. That being said, let the blogging recommence!June 19th: Today we went to a local food festival in Reston. There were local vendors, and it was a great opportunity to sample some of Reston's local fare. All in all, we got to eat Italian, hand-rolled sushi, chicken wings, and much more for about 20 bucks. It was really a neat experience, and I highly recommend that anyone in the area come out next year.
June 20th: Today we caught a Nats game- and I thought that, in the spirit of blogging, I'd list a few tips that I've found helpful when going out to local sporting events.
Water: Hydrate, hydrate,hydrate! Even if you think its a total pain to lug around, bring a bottled water just in case. If not- you'll be paying 4 bucks a bottle when you get to the stadiums.
Towels: Sometimes the seats are scorching hot- like today. Be sure and bring something with you to cover the seat. I was scorched today when I forgot my own towel!
Food: Atleast for the Nats stadium, you can bring in your own food to the games. My boyfriend and I have a tradition of bringing subway subs, but really anything except alcohol is allowed. It's much cheaper than eating the greasy stuff at the games, which can get pretty pricy. Still- there's no beating a stadium bratwurst for sure.
Allright well I hope that makes up for my lack of willpower over the past few days. Coming up in the next few blogs- apartment hunting and going out on a budget!
-SIC
Monday, June 7, 2010
Taxi Services
OK- today's blog is going to be short, because I am super sleepy and don't really have any epiphanies as to what to write today. So...
A few blogs ago, I said that the metrorails system was a great way to travel, if not a complete ripoff at the same time. Here's another fun metro fact: Did you know that there are taxi services that park right outside of most metro stops? It's true! Okay, I know that was lame...but I really have been sitting around looking at want ads all day and eating 3 berry pie. I promise I'm trying to find employment so that I can write about exciting things.
Goodnight,
SIC
A few blogs ago, I said that the metrorails system was a great way to travel, if not a complete ripoff at the same time. Here's another fun metro fact: Did you know that there are taxi services that park right outside of most metro stops? It's true! Okay, I know that was lame...but I really have been sitting around looking at want ads all day and eating 3 berry pie. I promise I'm trying to find employment so that I can write about exciting things.
Goodnight,
SIC
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Berries and Baseball
Hey urbanites,
So...I've decided that to keep myself sane, the weekend blogs will be posted on Sunday evenings. After all, how can I write about living in the DC area unless I actually LIVE?
That being said, here's the skinny on my weekend in the DC met. area:
June 5th:
So, some of you may be wondering what I ended up doing with all of those berries that I gathered from Butler's last weekend.
Well, I decided that when life refuses to give you rhubarb, you make- 3 BERRY PIE!
I have to say, that this pie was fabulous. I don't know if it was the day of being a couch potato, or just the Summer heat, but sitting down with a bowl of fruit and pie crust was exactly what the doctor ordered. Now, I know what you're saying. Man...I wish I had pie. Well, you can't have my pie, as it has been devoured, but you can have ...the recipe!
Here you go urbanites, your own 3 berry pie recipe:
ingredients:
1 and 1/2 cups frozen blueberries
2 cups raspberries
1 cup strawberries
1 cup sugar (white)
3 Tbs. Corn starch
The process:
1) Stir together corn starch and sugar until blended evenly.
2) Combine the fruit with the corn starch/sugar, making sure that everything is coated evenly..
3) Put fruit in 9" pie crust.
4) Bake on 375 degrees for 50 minutes...it's as simple as pie!
I let this set for a few hours in the fridge before digging in. However, if you're really desperate for some warm pie, go ahead and serve once baked...I won't tell ;)
June 6th:
Did you know that, despite DC's ecclectic and urban feel, it still boasts some great sporting events? The Nationals, heck even the Orioles, have some great games with some even greater ticket prices. This month alone, I am going to two games- one of which was 15 bucks a ticket. Buy yourself a beer and a hotdog and you couldn't ask for more!
This weekend I took full advantage of the area's great sports program, and watched a game at a "single a" stadium. This is a great opportunity to get great seats for cheapo prices. OK- I didn't have to pay anything for the specific game I saw today, as I had a family member playing an "all star" team game. However, it's still tons of fun regardless of where/when you see a local game. Plus, as I said, cheap seats! I got to sit in the first row, for about 8 bucks.
Well...back to the grind tomorrow. Ciao and happy city-dwelling!
-SIC
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